WILLIAMSTOWN, MA––Williams (8-8, 3-6 NESCAC) fell 11-10 to Middlebury(10-4, 6-3) in the final game of the regular season.
Today's game also honored senior co-captains Anne Marie Burke and Julia Schreiber. Burke has played in 69 games, generating 32 points over her four years. Schreiber has played in 66 games, playing 3,966:88 minutes in net. The two have also made two NCAA post-season appearance.
Head Coach Chris Mason said "They're just great players. They're leaders on the team, but they lead they play so hard and expect a lot out of their teammates. They have a good manner in how they lead the team. They're a good balance of tough and fun and humor. They're both strong players who we're going to miss."
Williams offense was led by Katie Pettengill, who had a hat-trick, and Margie Fulton and Kaitlin Ellis, who recorded two goals each. Schreiber made 16 saves.
Middlebury was led by Sally Ryan with four goals. Stephanie Gill an Elizabeth Garry also contributed two goals each. Lily Nguyen made 11 saves.
Despite an early attempt by Burke, Middlebury took the lead, going up 3-0 in the first ten minutes of the half. Pettengill, assisted by Fulton, put Williams on the scoreboard at 16:02. Middlebury's goal at 15:11 was waved off as a result of a yellow card awarded to Margaret Souther. A goal from junior Katie Ellis, assisted by Emily Jablonski, made the score 4-2 in the Panther's favor.
The Panthers scored twice more in the half, but the final three minutes belonged to the Ephs. Burke picked up a ground ball just inside the restraining line, hitting Fulton down-low. Fulton received the ball, rolling to beat her defender, and deftly sending the ball out of the reach of Nguyen. Schreiber also made several spectacular saves. Williams closed the half down 6-3.
Mason said "It was a good game, we just didn't start out handling the ball well enough. It's the same thing that's been haunting us all season. Our first half really hurt us, we just turned the ball over too much."
The second half was marked by strong offensive efforts from both teams. The teams scored a combined 8 goals in the first twelve minutes of the half. Middlebury maintained their lead 11-6. Ellis and freshman Rebecca McGovern started a four-goal run at 15:48. Middlebury turned the ball over near centerfield. Ellis picked up the ball, running deep into the Panther's defensive zone, moving the ball out to McGovern. McGovern passed it back for Ellis' goal.
Mason concluded saying "We played with determination, worked hard, and got it back to a point where we had the chance to close the gap, and maybe tie or win the game. I'm proud of how they played."
The late-game comeback was not enough to secure the win, and the Ephs closed the game 11-10. Both teams advance to the NESCAC Quarterfinals this Sunday. Their opponents are still to be determined.
